The Redpoll

Newsletter of the Arctic Audubon Society, Fairbanks, Alaska

Vol. 32 Issue No. 4 www.arcticaudubon.org February 2010
Arctic Audubon presents…

Alaska’s Charismatic Microfauna:

Our Mostly Six-Legged Neighbors
presentation by Dr. Derek Sikes A wasp from the woodpile
Mission of Arctic Audubon: Monday, February 8th, 7:00 pm
Earth has unparalleled natural Noel Wien Library Auditorium
diversity, productivity, and
beauty, and provides for
life. Recognizing the full
value of nature, we work to
M ost Alaskan animals have more than four legs and are smaller
than a quarter, but this “smaller majority” is generally over-
looked, underappreciated, and often disliked. Derek Sikes, professor Click beetle
protect Alaskan ecosystems of entomology and curator of insects at the University of Alaska
by encouraging research, Museum of the North will share highlights of his work with these
education, and management fascinating Alaskan animals. Illustrated with his beautiful photo-
that will contribute to graphs, Dr. Sikes will explain the importance of insects, spiders and
appreciation and good their kin, and the excitement of studying them in Alaska.
stewardship of this natural Derek Sikes was hired as the curator of insects at the University of Alaska A tenebrionid beetle that
has been the subject of
heritage. We also strive to Museum in July 2006. He is an advocate of the study and protection of the physiology of insect
conduct our own lives in arthropod, specifically beetle, biodiversity. overwintering team.
harmony with nature. Photos by Derek Sikes

The Arctic Audubon Society

Upcoming Events
publishes The Redpoll for its Northern Voices program features Frank Keim speaking about Yupik Eskimo villages
members monthly fall through Thursday, February 11, 7:00 pm, Noel Wien Library Auditorium
spring. National Audubon Local writer, birder and activist Frank Keim and his wife Jennifer
Society (NAS) dues are $35; spent from 1978 to 2000 in the Lower Yukon School District
new members are $20. NAS teaching in four Yupik Eskimo villages. While there, Frank
membership includes local chronicled his experience with the local people and their fauna
chapter dues. Chapter only and flora with photos, stories and poetry. In this presentation
membership is $10 and Frank will show photos and read a few of the many poems he
includes the newsletter. wrote while in the Lower Yukon Delta. Many of the poems
Hooper Bay women picking
Inside… rye grass Photo by Frank Keim feature the birds he loved to watch.

Arctic Audubon Offers Small Arctic Audubon Field Trip to UA Museum of the North Bird Collection
Grants ....................... 2 Saturday, February 13, 1:00 pm, UA Museum of the North
Board News .................... 3 Join Arctic Audubon for a look at the UA Museum of the North bird collection. Jack
Calendar . ....................... 4 Withrow, Curator of Ornithology, will be our guide. We will meet inside the museum at
Christmas Bird Count . ...... 3
the main entrance.
Great Backyard Bird Count..2 Kanuti Whimbrels: Unlocking the mystery of their southward migration
Rusty Blackbird Project Needs Wednesday, February 17, 7 pm, Alaska Bird Observatory, 418 Wedgewood Drive
Volunteers ................. 3 Biologist Chris Harwood will detail the southward migrations of Whimbrels breeding on
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge in north-central Alaska to their non-breeding grounds in
Central and South America.  For more information, call 451-7159.
 Page  The Redpoll February 2010

Arctic Audubon Offers Small Grants

Application deadline is March 15, 2010

Fairbanks Area
A rctic Audubon Society’s Small Grants Program funds conservation
related projects that support our mission to protect Alaska’s ecosystems
by encouraging research, education, and management that will contribute
Hiking & Birding Map to appreciation and good stewardship of our natural heritage This year will
The Fairbanks Area Hik- be our seventh year of offering small grants.
ing & Birding Guide is In 2010 Arctic Audubon will consider applications for small grants of up
sold in Fairbanks for $12 to $1000. Partial funding may be offered to several applicants. Proposed
at the Alaska Bird Obser- projects should enhance the understanding and conservation of northern
vatory Education Center, Alaska’s organisms and/or ecosystems. Projects dedicated to increasing
Beaver Sports, Friends of public awareness and knowledge of conservation issues are appropriate, as are
Creamer’s Field Farm- projects that develop educational tools. All applications will be considered
house Visitor Center, Geophysical and responded to. High school and middle school students and teachers
Institute Map Office, and Gulliver’s are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be expected to submit a
Books. Maps can be ordered via email report of outcomes and may be asked to give a short public presentation.
at [email protected]. Applicants should submit:
• A one page cover letter introducing themselves and including contact
Alaska eBird information
Alaska eBird is a great way to record • A one page project description that includes a budget and timeline for
your observations, manage your life list, completion.
and help contribute to avian monitoring
and conservation in Alaska. Visit the Applications are due March 15, 2010. Please submit by email to
Alaska eBird website, which includes [email protected] or by mail to Arctic Audubon, PO Box 82098,
photos, interesting birding news and Fairbanks, Alaska 99708.
features, as well as observation records: Arctic Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization based in
http://ebird.org/content/ak/ Fairbanks, Alaska. As a chapter of the National Audubon Society our region
encompasses the area north of the Alaska Range, including the North Slope
Email Delivery of Newsletter and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
E-Delivery of Arctic Audubon’s For more information about Arctic Audubon visit our website at www.
newsletter, The Redpoll, is now an op- arcticaudubon.org. Please direct questions to [email protected].
tion. Contact the newsletter editor
at [email protected] to receive your
newsletter via email instead of by postal
Great Backyard Bird Count
delivery. February 12-15, 2010

T ake part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 12–15.
Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice
bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes
(or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their
sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn
more about how the birds are doing­—and how to protect them. Last year,
participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the con-
tinent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded. 
For more information about the GBBC, visit the website at www.bird-
count.org. The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by
Mallard in winter on the Chena River.
generous support from Wild Birds Unlimited.
Photo by Ken Whitten
 February 2010 The Redpoll Page 

A Cold Day of Birding

Christmas Bird Count 2009

W e managed to pick a cold day for the 2009 Christmas

Bird Count on December 19 th. Creamer’s Field
reported a low of –38º F, and on some of the higher ridges
there was a stiff breeze. Showing their true grit, 91 people
participated in the count. Of these, 31 counted birds at their
feeders for an average of two hours each. The gritty 69 folks
who counted birds in 43 parties in the field averaged about
three hours per party out in the cold. This included a chilly
four hours on a snowmachine and a stint on the back of a
dogsled. Note that some folks managed to count birds at
their feeders as well as out in the field. This accounts for the
discrepancy in numbers
Were there rewards for diligence on such a cold day? Rusty Blackbird nestlings. Photo by Rachel Rabinovitz
Just seeing a bird on such a day is a wonder and a confirma-
tion that life can go forward in spite of the odds. A flock of Volunteer Opportunity
Bohemian Waxwings 250 birds strong was spotted south of
the Chena River and seen again as it moved west in the late
morning. Another 250+ bird flock of Bohemian Waxwings
E ver wonder what it is like to be a field biologist?
The Alaska Bird Observatory is offering the op-
portunity to spend two weeks with its Rusty Blackbird
in the Chena Pump Road area after Noon had to be the same
crew on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge this
flock. What a treat it was to see this large flock again just after
summer (mid-May until mid-July). We are looking for
Christmas near the Library. At Creamer’s Field, a chickadee
volunteers to assist the crew as they collect data on the
was seen going to roost in one of the Cliff Swallow mud nests
breeding ecology of these boreal wetland birds. Camp-
that adorn the barn. In the University area, a team watched
ing gear, food, training, and the flight out (and back)
redpolls bury themselves in the snow on a roof of a house with
to the study site are provided. You provide enthusiasm,
a well stocked feeder. Additional small wonders included two
curiosity, and a good sense of humor.
lone Robins and busy festoons of redpolls enjoying the birch
For further information contact April Harding
seeds that are so plentiful this winter.
Scurr ([email protected]) or Susan Sharbaugh
A Christmas Bird Count relies on the participation of
(451 -7159; [email protected]).
like-minded birders. Thank you to every one of you. Special
thanks go to River Gates for stepping into the data entry spot
for the count and to Jim DeWitt for maintaining the data
UA Museum of the North
file in excellent shape. The Area Coordinators who organize Annual Open House
and record the efforts of all deserve extra thanks: Brian Law- Saturday, February 6, Noon to 4 pm
head, Philip Martin, Joyce Potter, Mark Ross, Jamie and Bud Explore the museum behind the scenes. Meet the
Marschner, Laurel Devaney and Ken Russell, Tom and Joe curators and collection managers in their labs. Free
Green. Thank you for a job well done. admission.
We hope all will enjoy spending some time looking at the
data sheet on our website, www.arcticaudubon.org, from Arctic Audubon Board News
which you may make your own observations on the status of • The Arctic Audubon Board of Directors invites you
birds and bird watching in the Fairbanks area. to attend the next Board meeting on Monday, Febru-
ary 1st, 6:30 pm. Contact Gail Mayo, 479-2954 for

T he 2009 Christmas Bird Count data is posted on the

Arctic Audubon website, www.arcticaudubon.org.
Click on the “Christmas Bird Count” button. Historical
location. New board members are very welcome to
join our fun and productive group.
• Audubon Board member David Shaw authored an
data from 1995 to the present is available there. article in the February 2010 issue of Birder’s World
titled “Birding Alaska’s Arctic.” Check it out!
 Arctic Audubon Society
Nonprofit Org.
PO Box 82098
US Postage
Fairbanks, AK 99708 PAID
Permit No. 181
Fairbanks AK

Upcoming Events­—Mark Your Calendar

Birding Hotline
Alaska’s Charismatic Microfauna, Monday, (907) 451-9213
February 8, 7 pm, Noel Wien Library
Updated by Laurel Devaney & Ken Russell
Program on Alaska’s insects by Dr. Derek Sikes.
Field Trip to UA Museum of the North Bird Col- Report interesting bird sightings;
lection, Saturday, February 13, 1 pm learn what others have spotted.
Curator Jack Winthrow will be our guide.
Kanuti Whimbrels: Unlocking the mystery of National Audubon Society
their southward migration Wednesday, February New Member Form
17, 7 pm at Alaska Bird Observatory. Introductory rate, $20
Program by biologist Chris Harwood. Membership includes both National Audubon and the
Arctic Audubon Board Meeting, Feb. 1, 6:30 pm local chapter, Arctic Audubon. You will receive National
Members are welcome to participate. Call 479- Audubon’s magazine, Audubon, and Arctic Audubon’s
2954 for location. newsletter, The Redpoll.
Name: __________________________________
Arctic Audubon Board of Directors Address: _ _______________________________
email address: [email protected] _______________________________________
President: Gail Mayo (479-2954) City State Zip
Vice President: Open
❑ I would like to receive email announcements from
Secretary: Open
Arctic Audubon Society. My email address is:
Treasurer: Janet Daley (457-1583)
_ ________________________________
Education: Open
Conservation: River Gates (378-8775) Amount enclosed: $______ (make check payable to
Hospitality: Brook Gamble (456-3775) National Audubon Society)
Programs: Lauren Attanas (456-1108) Send to: Arctic Audubon Society
Newsletter: Mary Zalar (479-4547) PO Box 82098 C0ZA520Z
Membership: Mary Zalar (479-4547) Fairbanks, AK 99708
Field Trips: Frank Keim (451-9308)
Birdathon: Sherry Lewis (479-0848) q Chapter Only Membership, $10
Web Site: Tom Green (452-6370) For membership in Arctic Audubon only, check the box
Alaska Audubon Board: Dave Shaw (590-7023) and make check payable to Arctic Audubon Society.